Regional Anti-AIDS Campaign 


Include them all
 

On the occasion of 1 December, World Day for facing AIDS, the Health Education and Research Association H.E.R.A., together with OJAZAS - SR Yugoslovia and YAA - "Young Against Aids"- Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized the Regional Anti-AIDS Campaign, 2002 - "Include them all". The campaign's name points out to the already established negative public attitude towards people infected with the HIV virus and to those social groups for which there are prejudices that thy are "determined to carry the HIV virus (intra-vein dug addicts, homosexuals, prostitutes etc.) and as a consequence, they withdraw from the public life or can be rejected from their families, friends, health services, thus having difficulties in finding employment.

The campaign consists of several messages: each of us can be infected with the HIV virus, there are no special groups that spread the virus; the HIV positive, as well as any other, have a right to be treated, live and work normally; in Macedonia there are not yet medicines to prolong the live of the HIV positive; the sensationalistic informing on AIDS creates prejudices and puts us off from facing the problem.

H.E.R.A states several priorities, such as: adopting a national strategy that includes developing an efficient system for following the infection that will be more accessible to marginalized groups; unified tests and consultations on HIV/AIDS, that is establishing an anonymous and free testing throughout the country; continuous education on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases in the high-schools.

For additional information, please contact H.E.R.A. - Health Education and Research Association; 4-1/14 Dimitrija Cupovski, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia; tel/fax 02/212744 or e-mail hera@stopaids.org.mk; H.E.R.A. web-site is www.stopaids.org.mk.

 

D.M.